by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UC Merced retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 86% students making it past their freshmen year, UC Merced has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UC Merced | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 1,128 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 32% of the cohort graduated. After six years 66% had completed their degree, and 68% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official UC Merced graduation rate 66%.
The average UC Merced student takes 4.41 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 656 | 39% |
| Six Years | 1,128 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 28 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 544 | 32% |
Approximately 544 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 544 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
451 transferred to another institution.
UC Merced lost contact with the remaining 93 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 451 | 82.9% |
| Dropped Out | 93 | 17.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 80% |
| Asian | 72% |
| Black / African-American | 68% |
| Hawaiian | 80% |
| Hispanic | 69% |
| International | 72% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 69% |
| Unknown | 64% |
| White | 59% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at UC Merced are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at University of California - Merced represent 86% of the students in the class of 2015, and 82.71% of UC Merced bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 32%, first-time students in the UC Merced class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UC Merced graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 66% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | UC Merced | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 64% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 47.82% |
501 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
409 transferred to another institution.
UC Merced lost contact with the remaining 92 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.80% |
| Transferred | 409 | 81.64% |
| Dropped Out | 92 | 18.36% |
First-time / part-time students at University of California - Merced represent 0.24% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 75%, first-time, part-time students in the UC Merced class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 75%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | UC Merced | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 50% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 75% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 23.72% |
1 first-time / part-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
UC Merced lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 100.00% |
230 UC Merced students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.53% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 82%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 83%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | UC Merced | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 82% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 55.07% |
40 non first-time / part-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
UC Merced lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 40 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
5 UC Merced students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.29% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 60%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 60%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | UC Merced | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 60% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 37.80% |
2 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
UC Merced lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
